Transport



June 8,,"1943a E. H. GRAVE S 2,321,198 TRANSPORT Filed June 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR fow/h fi'ral/es June 8, 1943. s 2,321,198

TRANSPORT Filed June 18. 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 8, 1943 TRANSPORT Edwin H. Graves, Piedmont, Calit, assignor to La Plant-Choate Mfg. 00., Inc.. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application June 18, 1941, Serial No. 398,545

Claims.

My invention relates particularly to vehicles for use in rough country or on highways for loading, transporting and unloading long, generally cylindrical objects such as logs, pipes, poles and the like, and is especially designed in its present form for use in handling and carrying logs.

In the woods logging arches are very often used behind tractors for supporting one end of a group of logs while the remaining end trails upon the ground. The logging arch and its load is then hauled around by a tractor. While this is some improvement on simply snaking the logs around by manipulation of cable lines, it is not wholly satisfactory, and it is therefore an object of my invention to provide an improved means for handling logs.

Another object of my invention is toprovide a transport which may be utilized with a standard form of draft vehicle.

Another object of my invention is to provide a transport of such a nature that it is not only usable in the woods, but also for relatively high speed transport on improved roads.

The foregoing and other objects are attained in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of a transport constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan of my transport.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section the plane of which is indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of my transport.

In its preferred form, my transport comprises an articulated vehicle one portion of which is the draft element and the other portion of which is the carrying element. The carrying element includes a frame which has a pair of spaced apart side rails supported by ground-engaging means and joined to the draft unit by a universal connection. Between the side members is a body, including a bottom and a pair of sides, pivotally connected to the frame by a cross shaft so that the body can be swung between the side members in a vertical plane, preferably by the use of hydraulically expansible chambers. In one position the body is adapted to be in engagement with the ground and there is provided a ground-engaging edge on the body to resist rearward forces on the mechanism and to provide a smooth transition for the load from the ground into the bottom of the body. In order to get logs or the like from their ground position into the body, a pulley is supported above the body, preferably on an arch, a cable is trained from a source of power such as a winch on the tractor unit over the pulley and downwardly through the body to the logs. Also, there is preferably provided a second arch with a difierent pulley mounting so that the same cable when differently reeved can be utilized to assist the logs to discharge from the body, for which purpose the body itself diverges toward its rearward end.

While the transport of my invention can be substantially varied without departing from the scope of the claims, in one form it incorporates a standard, commercially available tractor. unit 6 comprising a vehicle incorporating a power plant and having rear ground-engaging wheels 1 and front, steerable, ground-engaging wheels 8. An operators station 9 is provided on the vehicle 6 so that the vehicle can be operated either on very rough ground such as in the woods, or at relatively high speed on the highway. The vehicle is provided with a ball socket II for the reception of auxiliary equipment.

In accordance with my invention, in the ball socket Ii I provide a ball l2 which is at the forward end of a gooseneck I3 incorporated in a frame, generally designated M, and likewise including a cross-tube Hi from which extend spaced apart side members I! and I8, respectively. Each of these members extends to a substantial distance to the rear of the gooseneck l3 and adjacent its rear end is supported upon a ground-engaging member such as a wheel l9. Thus, the frame M may be advanced over the terrain by operation of the vehicle 6, and the ball I2 and socket H connection affords a universal articulation therebetween.

Disposed between the side members and I8 is a body, generally designated 2|, which is preferably fabricated of a plurality of metal plates and shapes and includes at least a bottom 22 and a plurality of side walls 23 and 24 respectively. If desired, which in most instances it is, there may also be provided a forward wall 25. Suitable braces 21 are incorporated in the construction of the various walls. Preferably, the side walls 23 and 24 are closer together at their forward portions than at the rearward portion; that is, the side walls diverge toward the rear of the vehicle and terminate in wings 26, although the body is disposed well between the side members l1 and I8.

To mount the body upon the frame, I provide a pair of pivots 3| and 32 located coaxially on the side members l1 and I8 respectively, andengaging the-sidewalls 23 and 24 adjacent the forward upper corners thereof. Thus, the body is mounted to swing in a vertical are between ,the side members of the frame and in order to control such swinging movement, I provide at each side of the body a hydraulically expansible mechanism 33 which at its upper end is connected by a pivot 35 to a bracket 35 on the associated side wall, whfle at its lower end the mechanism is connected by a pivot 31 to a bracket 2| with respect to the frame H between an upper-' most position in which the body floor 22 is substantially horizontal, as shown in Fig. 3, and a second ground-engaging position, substantially as shown in Fig. 1, in which the bottom of the body is in engagement with the ground. In fact,

' the power of the hydraulic devices is preferably such that a flaring ground-engaging lip or edge 41 at the rear of the body bottom is driven a short distance into the ground, if desired. The member 31 provides a smooth transition piece between the ground surface and the interior surface of the bottom 22, and acts as a brake against retrograde movement.

Mechanism is provided for moving a load from outside of the vehicle into the body portion thereof. Preferably, this is a cable arrangement so that it can be operated over a large area distant from and close to the mechanism. On the tractor 5 there is provided a winch 5| suitably power driven in the customary fashion and provided with a control handle 52 adjacent the station 9 for the operator. From the winch a cable 53 extends through a pair of fairlead sheaves 54 and 55 which are mounted on a bracket 51 having a hollow hub and forming part of the gooseneck l3, so that despite normal articulation between the tractor 6 and the trailer vehicle, the cable 53 will be appropriately guided. From the sheave 53 the cable extends around a sheave 51 which is removably mounted, for example, in a holder 53 supported on an arch 59 extending over the body 2| and having its side members incorporated with the framing of the body side walls 23 and 24. Thus, the body is well braced transversely, and a solid support is provided for the removable sheave 51. After passing around such sheave, the cable 53 extends through the body to a fastening 6| of a hitch 52 encompassing a load such as a plurality of logs 53, for example.

In the operation of the device the logs are piled up in a suitable location with the hitch 62 around them and the transport is backed into position and the body 2| is lowered by actuation of the handle 44 to displace hydraulic fluid in the chambers 34 until the ground-engaging edge 41 encounters the ground and forms an anchor. The rope 53 is then taken around the sheave 51 and connected by its fastening GI and then the handle 52 is operated so that the winch takes in the cable. This operation snakes the load 53 toward the body and the forward edges of the logs or other load ride over the smooth transition piece 41 into the bottom of the body and are advanced until they occupy substantially the position shown in Fig. 1. During all of this time the engagement of the piece 41 with the ground assists in holding the vehicle in place, thereby relieving the strain on the vehicle brakes and facilitating the loading operation.

When the load has thus been positioned within the vehicle, the controller 44 is again operated so that the hydraulically expansible chambers 34 are actuated to lift the vehicle body from its lowermost position as shown in Fig. 1 into its carrying position as shownin Fig. 3, with the bottomsubstantially horizontal. It is contemplated thatithe center of gravity of the load 53 will be at least as far forward as the trailing edge 41 of the vehicle body, so that when the vehicle body is lifted the load will be lifted therewith and there will be a complete support of the load without any dragging. Thus, with the load lifted and the weight entirely borne on the ground-engaging members 1, 3 and I3, the load can be taken to any desired location for unloading.

T o unload the logs, the hitch 62 can be moved from its original location to a new forward location as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 1, adjacent the forward ends of the logs and in which the cable 53 has then a rearward slant. Then when the operating handle 52 is worked to reenergize the winch 5|, the cable tends to lift and to draw the load to the rear. Since the sides 2| and 23 flare toward the rear, as soon as the logs are started rearwardly they discharge relatively easily and if at the same time the lever 44 is actuated again to lower the body at least partially, the log ends contact the ground and the transport as a whole can be driven away, thus finally discharging the load. During final discharge the winch 5| runs freely.

For an alternative method of unloading, I provide a second arch 1|, extending over the load space in the body and likewise included in the framing of the body side walls. The arch 1| contains a mounting 12 adapted to receive the sheave 51. Thus, under some circumstances the sheave 51 can be detached from its mounting 53 and moved to the mounting 12 so that the cable 53 takes the dashed line position as shown in Fig. 1 and a very substantial amount of rearward motion is effective upon the logswhen the cable is drawn in. With this arrangement there is no difficulty even under adverse conditions from starting the logs and efl'ectuating a complete discharge thereof.

With my transport it is entirely feasible to pick up a load of logs from a rather distant point in the woodsand even off of a woods road which the transport as a whole can negotiate, since thecable 53 permits the logs to be snaked some distance into the back of the transport and to be loaded thereon even if they are started somewhat at an angle, because the flared edges of the bottom and sides guide the logs into place and the pull of the cable 53 tends to line up the logs suitably in the body. When the load has been positioned and the body is raised there is an efficient means of transport provided which is superior to that afforded by a logging arch, since there is no dragging to consume power and no damage to the logging road. Then relatively high speed transport is afforded on the highway since there is no contact therewith except by the usual rubber tired wheels. At the destination the logs can readily be unloaded as a unit and the vehicle returned for further use.

In certain other uses, for example, in laying pipe lines and in transporting pipe, the cable 53 can be provided with a special hook (not shown) instead of the fastening 5|. The hook is repeatedly engaged in the ends of successive pipe lengths to discharge them one at a time so that the vehicle in unloading can discharge the pipe successively in a line instead of in a body at one location.

I claim: 1. A transport comprising a draft vehicle, a

frame articulated on said draft vehicle and hav- I frame articulated on said draft vehicle and having a pair of spaced apart side members, a body disposed between said side members and having an open rear end, side walls on said body diverging toward the rear thereof, arches intermediate the ends of said body and upstanding from said side walls, means on said arches for handling a load in said body, means for mounting said body to swing on said frame between said side members, means for swinging said body, and means on said draft vehicle for controlling said load handling means and said swingin means.

3. A transport comprising a stable draft vehicle, a frame articulated on said draft vehicle at its forward end and having a pair of trailing, spaced apart side members, ground-engaging wheels on the rear of said side members, a body disposed between said side members and having an open rear end, side walls on said body, pivots connecting said side walls and said side members, hydraulically expansible chambers interposed between said side walls and said side members for swinging said body on said frame into and out of a, lower position, an arch upstanding from said side walls and spanning said body, means on said arch for hauling a load into said body in said lower position, and means on said draft vehicle for controlling said load handling means and said hydraulically expansible chambers.

4. A transport comprising: a draft vehicle; a U shaped frame articulated at its closed end to said draft vehicle with its legs extending rearwardly thereof; ground engaging wheels supporting the rear ends of the legs of said U shaped frame in substantially fixed vertical relation with respect to the ground; a load-carrying body pivoted at its forward end to the forward end of said U shaped frame; and means operatively associated with the rear ends of said load-carrying body and U shaped frame for elevating and lowering the rear end of said load-carrying body with respect to said U shaped frame.

5. A device such as defined in claim 4 wherein said U shaped frame is provided intermediate its ends with an upwardly extending arch; a pulley is carried by said arch; a winch is carried by said draft vehicle and a load manipulating cable passing over said pulley is operatively connected to said winch.

EDWIN H. GRAVES. 

